Security+ Certification Cost 2026: Exam Fee and Real Total
The Security+ exam is $425 in 2026. What study materials, retakes and renewal add, what most people really spend ($450–$600), and how to pay less.
EpicDetect Team
7 min read
Security+ Certification Cost in 2026: The Exam Fee and the Real Total
The Security+ exam voucher costs $425 at CompTIA's list price. That is the number most people search for, and it is only part of what you will spend.
Add study materials, a possible retake and the time you put in, and most people land somewhere between $450 and $600. Here is where the money goes, and how to stay at the low end of that range.
The Exam Fee: $425
CompTIA raised the Security+ (SY0-701) voucher from $404 to $425 in 2025. Prices change, so check CompTIA's store before you buy.
What the fee covers:
- One attempt at the exam, at a Pearson VUE test center or online with a remote proctor. Both are included in the price.
- Up to 90 questions in 90 minutes, including performance-based questions (PBQs).
- A scaled score from 100 to 900. You need 750 to pass. It is a scale, not a percentage, so you can't convert it directly.
What it does not cover:
- A retake. If you fail, the next attempt costs another full voucher. There is no wait before a second attempt, but a third or later attempt needs a 14-day gap.
- Study materials. Nothing comes with the voucher on its own. CompTIA sells bundles with training and retakes, but they cost more.
The cheapest Security+ is the one you pass the first time. Don't book the exam until you are scoring consistently above 80% on full practice exams. How many practice tests you need depends on your background.
Study Materials: $0 to $200
This is where costs swing the most, and where most people overspend.
Free options that work:
- Professor Messer's Security+ video course on YouTube
- CompTIA's free exam objectives (the official list of everything the exam can test)
- Our free 20-question Security+ practice test, which scores you against the 75% pass line in about 10 minutes
Paid options worth considering:
- A video course on sale. Udemy courses regularly drop to $15–$30.
- A full-length practice exam bank. This is the one paid item most people should not skip, because it is how you find out whether you are ready. We compared the popular Udemy practice tests here.
- The official CompTIA study guide, if you learn best from a book (around $40–$60).
What you can skip:
- Weekend bootcamps that promise a pass in two days
- A second or third practice test pack once you have already worked through several hundred questions
- Full-price textbooks when the same material is free or on sale
A realistic materials budget: $30–$100.
The Cost Nobody Lists: Your Time
Security+ takes most people 60–120 hours of study.
- With an IT background: 60–80 hours.
- New to security: 100–120 hours.
At an hour a day, that's two to four months. Your time has value, so a cheaper resource that wastes 20 hours is not actually cheaper.
The Real Total
- Best case, about $425–$475: free and cheap materials, pass on the first try.
- Typical, about $475–$575: a course or a practice exam bank, pass on the first try.
- With one retake, about $900–$1,000: typical prep plus one failed attempt.
- Worst case, $1,500+: a bootcamp and more than one retake.
The gap between the typical and the retake rows is almost all the second voucher. That is why preparation is the best way to save money.
How to Pay Less
Ask your employer. Many companies with IT or security teams reimburse certifications. If you already work anywhere in tech, ask before you pay.
Student pricing. CompTIA's academic store sells discounted vouchers to eligible students.
Military and veterans. Several programs cover certification exams, and the GI Bill can reimburse certification test fees. Check your eligibility before paying full price.
Discounted vouchers. Authorized CompTIA partners sometimes sell vouchers below list price. Buy only from authorized sellers. Cheap vouchers from unofficial sites are a common scam.
Treat a retake as a fresh start. If you fail, use your score report to find your weakest domains and study those before you rebook. Rebooking straight away and hoping is how people end up paying three times. What to do after failing Security+ walks through it.
Should You Wait for Security+ V8?
CompTIA has announced Security+ V8 for November 2026. The current exam, SY0-701, stays available until June 11, 2027 in English.
If you are already studying, finish on SY0-701. You have months of overlap, and almost all current prep material is built for it. If you are starting from zero right now, either version works. Pick whichever has the study materials you want.
Renewal: The Cost After You Pass
Security+ is valid for three years. You keep it by earning continuing education credits and paying CompTIA's annual continuing education fee, or by passing a higher-level CompTIA exam such as CySA+. Budget for renewal when you pass, so the deadline doesn't sneak up on you.
Is Security+ Worth the Cost?
For most people starting in security, yes. It appears on a large share of entry-level SOC and security job postings, meets US Department of Defense requirements for many roles, and gives you a common foundation employers recognize. Around $500 for a credential that opens those doors is a reasonable investment.
It won't get you hired on its own. Hands-on skills and something to show in an interview matter as much as the certificate.
Where EpicDetect Fits
If you want one place to prepare:
- Free: the 20-question Security+ practice test. No account needed to take it. A free account unlocks your score in each domain and every answer explained.
- Premium: all 8 Security+ modules (46 lessons) in the exam's order, timed 90-question practice exams scored by domain, and nine flashcard decks with spaced review. $25 a month or $180 a year, with a 7-day free trial on your first subscription.
Two months of Premium plus the exam voucher comes to about $475, in the typical range above, with practice exams included.
FAQ
How much is the Security+ exam?
$425 for one attempt at CompTIA's 2026 list price. Discounts exist for students, military and through authorized partners.
Does the voucher include a retake?
No. Each attempt needs its own voucher unless you buy a bundle that includes one.
What score do I need to pass?
750 on a scale of 100 to 900. Aim to score consistently above 80% on full-length practice exams before you book.
How long is Security+ valid?
Three years. You renew with continuing education credits and an annual fee, or by passing a higher CompTIA exam.
Can I take Security+ without studying networking first?
You can, but it is harder. Security+ assumes basic networking knowledge, so if you don't have it, two to four weeks of networking fundamentals first will save you time overall.
Is CompTIA's official bundle worth it?
Usually not at full price. Buy the voucher on its own and use free or low-cost study materials, unless the bundle's built-in retake would change your plans.
TL;DR
The exam is $425. Study materials can cost $30–$100 if you are selective. Expect 60–120 hours of study. Most people spend $450–$600 in total, and a retake roughly doubles the exam part. The way to stay at the low end: don't book until your practice scores say you're ready.
Sources:
- CompTIA Security+ certification
- CompTIA Security+ V7 (SY0-701) exam details and retirement dates
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